9 9-Dark Side (1/2)

For almost a month now, Zayne has been on edge, terrified his father will send him to a conversion camp. Knowing the closest one is in Dallas doesn't help either, the distance almost scares him more than the camp. He hasn't been sleeping and he's been struggling to not cling to me in public. Both of us have been struggling with that.

While he's struggling with the fear of being sent away, he's been trying hard to eat more and has made a little bit of progress. Some days are harder than others, especially with Conrad around.

Conrad and his girlfriend broke up two weeks ago, giving Tempe the opportunity she wanted. It's because of this that I now spend every day at lunch with my sister wishing I could strangle him with his own ego.

Zayne usually sits in the bathroom by the office at lunch just to get away from everyone. We take advantage of no one going in there to have a little bit of time to ourselves in the chaos of our school.

Every night I'm at his house, comforting him and giving him the sense of security he needs. His father is coming home later and later, and talks to him less and less.

This is my seventh night in a row I've snuck out to see him, I must be breaking some record. Deep down I'm nervous, tonight his parents will be out until really late trying to get some private time so it'll just be me and Zayne.

We've been texting most of the day, he doesn't seem to be doing well.

I could bring a movie and some food? My mom made truffles

I don't know Josh. Tonight I think I just want to enjoy us being alone, after everything the past couple months has dropped I think we need just one night

Conrad has been giving him a really hard time at school, especially in first period. It's hard to start every day by being tormented, and it's hard to watch. He's upped his game in finding new ways to torment Zayne. Over the weekend he had someone gotten into Zayne's locker and stuffed it full of tiny stress balls shaped like the shit emoji and cupcakes. He's been tripping him on the way to his desk in Physics when Mr. Roe isn't looking. He jumped Zayne on his way home last week giving him a massive black eye.

Part of me is afraid Zayne won't be able to handle it much longer. At lunch I'm proven right.

Zayne has been trying to get lunch in line, he's been trying hard to eat three meals a day. The downside, being in line makes him an easy target.

I'm sitting at a lunch table with Arriana, Tempe, Caira, Conrad, and his friends writing in my journal trying to ignore them. Conrad whispers something to Tempe causing her to laugh and run her hands all over him. I debate whether or not I should puke as he scoots her off his lap, gets up and marches over to Zayne.

The table we're at is rather close to the lunch line and I hear everything.

Conrad puts his hand on Zayne's shoulder, as if they've been friends forever, ”You know Cupcake, I really just want to extend my condolences. I can't imagine what your parents are going through, being forced to deal with your perverted ass every single day. They must be so embarrassed, feeling responsible for your sickness.”

Arriana grabs my hand and loses all color in her face. Even Caira is taken aback and looks disturbed.

All I see is the last wire in Zayne get cut. Suddenly in front of everyone, Conrad is on the floor holding his nose. Before anyone can react, Zayne is on top of Conrad hitting him and swearing and screaming.

”Don't you ever talk about my parents like that!” His fist meets Conrad's cheek, ”I have put up with you and your shit for four years! I am so fucking sick of it!”

Conrad tries to cover his face and get away but Zayne has absolutely snapped. Me and a few other guys jump up to break up the fight. Me and one other guy grab Zayne and pull him back off Conrad who is bleeding.

The football coach comes up and grabs Zayne, pulling him out of my grasp.

”You call me the sick one you fucking ass?” He screaming at the top of his lungs, his face is bright red, ”You're the one who can't survive one day without laughing at making someone's life a living hell! And for what? I've never done anything to you! I just want to be me but all you want is to make me hate myself! You're the sick one!”

He gets dragged out of the lunchroom as everyone crowds around the scene.

Conrad struggles to stand up, his shirt stained and hair tousled, ”What a fucking freak show.”

For the first time since I met Conrad, I see the whole school turn on him. Starting with my sister and Caira.

”You might have taken it too far Conrad,” Caira gives him a disgusted sneer, ”Yeah he's weird and gross but what you said was bullshit that no one deserves.”

Arriana actually spits at him!

”I hope you're happy,” she barks, ”You have successfully destroyed him. And for what? Because he's different? Because you could? Because he dared to be himself? He's right, you are the sick one.”

People mutter commentary, some siding with Zayne some with Conrad, some even go as far to say they should both be expelled.

I take my chance in the midst of the chaos to run after Zayne and to try and defend him to the school. People like Conrad have gotten away with this shit for far too long.

I spend an hour in the office with a bunch of other kids picked at random to find out what really happened. I sit down with the counselor who writes down everything I say as I describe everything that Conrad said, and all he's done since freshman year.

As I leave the office I see Zayne in the principal's office, his head in his hands crying as our principal, Ms. Jennings, gently rubs his back and keeps talking to him.

Tonight is going to be really rough.

I spend every second of class watching my phone hoping to hear from Zayne. Silence.

I check when I get home. Nothing.

When my parents go to bed. Not a single text.

I call his mom, ”Mrs. Daveen? It's Josh, is Zayne ok? I haven't heard anything, and I'm really worried. I don't know if I can still come over but I at least want to make sure he's ok.”

Her voice is stressed and sad, ”It's not looking good Josh. The school isn't sure what to do, no one ever actually reported this Conrad boy for what he did and while Zayne has been bullied nonstop he did attack someone. I don't even really know what happened, he won't talk to us. I'm still going out with his father tonight, he's steaming over this whole thing. If you want to come over you can, I think you're the only one he'll talk to right now.”

I slide out my window and take off on my bike minutes after I hang up. I'm over there just as his parents start to get into their station wagon.

His mom hugs me, ”Thank you Josh, he needs someone right now. I'm afraid that if we push we'll drive him farther away. We don't even know how the fight started.”

His father stands there, firm and stoic as I tell them what happened and what Conrad said. His mom covers her mouth as tears start falling, his father closes his eyes and drops his head.

”Tiffany, get in the car,” his voice booms over us, ”I need a minute.”